IAPESGW Regional Symposia and key events

4 September: Today, 4 September 2014, the Executive Board of IAPESGW dedicated the 1st IAPESGW Regional International Gender and Sport Symposium in Ankara, Turkey at Hecettepe University to former IAPESGW President Margaret Talbot. Current President Rosa Lopez D'amico made the dedication during the opening session this morning. She gave a brief biography and recognized all Margaret's contributions to this part of the world.

IAPESGW’s first regional symposium brings together decision-makers, researchers, coaches and athletes with the aims to:• advance the international dialogue around women and sport • improve the dialogue around women and sport internationally with a special focus on the Middle East and Europe • and reinforce the collaboration between researchers and practitioners in women and sport in the world. IAPESGW Regional Symposium’s topics include:• gender policies and sport participation • religion, ethnicity, diversity and sport• leadership and sport • gender equity in physical education• health and physical activity • safety and inclusion for girls and women in sport

A report on the event from Rosa López de D’Amico, IAPESGW president 2013 - 2017:

The celebration of the Korean Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (KAPESGW) took place September 26th – 27th, 2014 at Yonsei University, Seoul - Korea.

It was a pleasant surprised to see the influence of IAPESGW at different stages of its evolution throughout these years. KAPESGW has had 16 presidents since it was created 60 years ago, the actual one is Prof. Won Young Shin, who has had a strong influence in the development of national gymnastics program for health...............View the full report

The Symposium, 14th – 15th December, was generously hosted by the Alzahra University with 30 scientific articles from Iranian and International keynote speakers and 80 poster presentations during two consequent days. Six professional workshops were also organized and the concluding ceremony ended with the following closing statement:

The International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW) supports all efforts to reject discrimination of Muslim Women’s right to participate in physical activity and sport at every level, including all major international sport events.

In recent years the Association has been active on this topic internationally. A major event was the International Seminar held in Oman in 2008 with delegates from 14 countries – Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, South Africa, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. One outcome was the "Accept and Respect-Declaration".

Three statements are highlighted here:1. Islam is an enabling religion that endorses women’s participation in physical activity.2. We recommend that people working in the sport and education systems accept and respect the diverse ways in which Muslim women and girls practise their religion and participate in sport and physical activity, for example, choices of activity, dress and gender grouping. 3. We urge international sport federations to show their commitment to inclusion by ensuring that their dress codes for competition embrace Islamic requirements, taking into account the principles of propriety, safety and integrity.

In the recent past, the International Association has also written to Sports Governing Bodies in support of all Muslim women’s right to honour the preference for Islamic dress; for example to FIFA, the Weight-Lifting and Badminton International Federations.

Regarding this event in Tehran, it was clear that the opportunity of having a separate Department for Women’s Sport in the Ministry or any Sport Organization can be an important step for empowering women in Islamic countries.

Finally we express our appreciation to the Islamic Republic of IRAN for supporting the participation of Iranian women in physical activity, physical education and sports.